Eared Quetzal
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| Euptilotis neoxenus (Gould, 1838) |
The Eared Quetzal, Euptilotis neoxenus also known as the Eared Trogon is a near passerine bird in the trogon family, Trogonidae. It breeds in streamside pine-oak forests and canyons in the Sierra Madre Occidental of Mexico. It is also sometimes seen as a vagrant to southeasternmost Arizona in the United States where it has also bred. This is the Madrean sky islands region of southeast Arizona, southwest New Mexico, and northern Sonora.
It is a resident of the middle to upper levels of pine-oak woodlands and forests, frequently along streams. It nests 5-9 m high in an unlined shallow tree cavity, usuually selecting an old woodpecker hole.
Quetzals have distinctive male and female plumages, with soft, often colourful, feathers. They are also more heavily bodied than the trogons.
This species is 33-36 cm long. Both sexes have large white spotting with a black terminal band on the undertail, a dark bill and face, metallic deep green uppertail and orange-red undertail coverts and lower belly.
The male Eared Quetzal has a metallic deep green upper breast, back and upperwing coverts, and an orange red belly. The female has a metallic bronze greenish back and upperwing coverts. She shows a deep gray breast upper belly.
The male's song is a series of whistled notes increasing in volume. Calls are varied, but include a loud squeal ending with a sharp "chuck".
Eared Quetzals feed on insects and fruit. It is particularly fond of Arizona madrone. Insects are usually fed to the young.
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Euptilotis neoxenus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 6 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is near threatened
